Fifth-wheel.



Patented Sept. 4, I900. H C FDUTS FIFTH WHEEL.

(Apphcatwn filed May 16, 1900) (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT omen.

HIRAM GIOERO FoUTs, OF EMORY, TEXAS.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

srEcI'FIcA'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,406, dated September 4, 1900. Application filed May 15, 1900. Serial No. 16,!49. (Np model.)

To on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HIRAM CICERO FOUTS,

of Emory, in the county of Rains and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fifth-Wheels, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to fifth-Wheels for vehicles of that form in which a turn-table containing ball-bearings is employed; and my invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the parts of the same designed to form a simple, practical, strong, and sensitive wheel, as will be hereinafter more fully described with reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan View with part of the upper plates removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken longitudinally to the axle on line 2 2, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section at right angles to Fig. 2 on line 3 3.

In the drawings, A represents the axle, and B is a turn-table plate having two upwardlyprojecting circular flanges O and D and a raised central boss or hub F, all of which are preferably formed of one piece of metal. The

flanges O and D form between them a circular channel or raceway for a series of steel balls B, while the flange D and boss F form between them a similar raceway for another series of steel balls E, which latter are somewhat smaller than B, but on a higher plane, and the raceway containing them somewhat shallower than the outer one.

Attached to opposite sides of the turn-table tending to the rear axle, a slotted extension 9 being formed on the plate G, between the branches of which the coupling-pole is jointed by means of a bolt J. The balls B and E extend slightly above the flanges, and upon said balls the ring-shaped plate G rests, the said plate resting on top of the balls B and having the inner edge of the plate bearing against the outer surfaces of the higher series to the ring-plate.

of balls E to form a pivotal center. At diametrical points on the ring-shaped plate G a are formed lugs J J, to which are bolted or the balls a cap-plate I is fastened by bolts to the central boss F, the bolts m m, of which there may be two or four, extending through the boss F and the bottom of the turn-table on each side of the axle, which is not weakened by the passage of a king-bolt through it. This cap plate resting upon the boss F slightly above the ring-plate G overlaps the inner edge of the same and while holding it down permits it to freely turn on the balls B below and against the balls E along its inner edge.

The reach or coupling pole M has a brace M, extending under the axle to a central pivot, and braces N N connect the rear axle to the bolt J, which joins the connecting-pole These braces may, however, if desired, extend to the lugs J J of the ring-shaped plate, as shown in dotted lines. By means of hinge-boltJ a free up-and-down motion between the axles is allowed on rough roads.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A fifth-wheel comprising a turn-table with two circular raceways and series of balls, and a raised boss in the middle, the inner series of balls being in a higher plane than the outer one, a ring-shaped plate bearing with its under surface on the outer series of balls, and hearing at its inner edges against the inner series of balls, and a cap-plate bolted to the central boss and overlapping the inner edges of the ring-shaped plate substantially as described.

2. A fifth-wheel comprising a turn-table with the lugs and clamping devices for connecting them to the axle, said turn-table havin g two raceways and concentric series of balls, the inner set being higher than the outer set, and having also a raised boss in the center, a swiveling ring-plate resting on the 7 the ring-plate and connected to the central same outside of the axle as shown and de outer series of balls'and against the inner'series of balls, and a cap-plate bolted to the central boss and overlapping the ring-plate substantially as described.

3. A fifth-wheel comprising a turn-table with a raised central boss, two concentric,

raceways with balls, and having-alse diamet rically-arranged lugs with clamping devices for the axle, a ring-shaped plate resting upon; the Outer series of balls and against thein'ner series of balls, and a cap-plate overlapping boss by two ormore bolts passing through the scribed.

- 4.- A fifth-wheel comprising a turntable with raised central boss, two concentric race: ways with balls, aringfplate resting on the outer series of balls and against the inner se-v ries of balls and having outwardly projecti-ng. lugs on its sides, a cap-plate bolted to the central boss and overlapping the ring-plates; and aspiring-seat consisting of a bar curved on its upper side to receive the spring,and

having 9n its lower side at its ends lugs resting upon and secured to the lugs of the ring plates as described. i j

"'5'. 11m th=WheeL the combination with the swiveling plate arranged about a vertical center over the front axle, a connecting-pole .or reach-bar hinged orjointed to the said swiveling plate, and brace-rods extended to the. earn e hinged center between the connect ing-p619 and swiveling plate substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tWo's'ubscrihingwitnesses.

'HIRAM OIOERO FOUTS. Witnesses 5 B. M. MCMAHAN, V. H. MONTGOMERY. 

